Diuris fucosa
{{Short description|Species of orchid}}
{{Speciesbox
| image =
| genus = Diuris
| species = fucosa
| authority = D.L.Jones{{cite web|title=Diuris fucosa|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/78933|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=26 June 2023}}
}}
Diuris fucosa is a species of orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It between four and seven leaves and up to four pale yellow flowers with a few brown striations. It is only known from two sites in Callitris woodland in the south of the state and is classed as "extinct" in Victoria.
Description
Diuris fucosa is a tuberous, perennial herb with a loose tussock of between four and seven narrow linear leaves {{convert|100-250|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1-3.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. Up to four pale yellow flowers {{convert|30-40|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide are borne on a flowering stem {{convert|150-300|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} tall. The dorsal is egg-shaped and held close to horizontally, {{convert|11-15|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|7-11|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. The lateral sepals are green, lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, {{convert|15-25|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|1.5-4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and turned below horizontal and usually parallel to each other. The petals spread apart from each other, elliptic to egg-shaped, {{convert|10-18|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|5-10|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide on a green to brown stalk {{convert|4-7|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long. The labellum is {{convert|15-22|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is broadly egg-shaped, {{convert|12-17|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|7-14|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and the side lobes are oblong to wedge-shaped, {{convert|2-4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1-2|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide with irregular edges. There are two thick, brown, pimply callus ridges near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in August and September.{{cite journal|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=Miscellaneous new species of Australian Orchidaceae|journal=Australian Orchid Research|date=2006|volume=5|pages=78–79}}{{cite web|last1=Stajsic|first1=Val|title=Diuris fucosa|url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/c14ca902-16eb-4490-a5f6-433e89cfe2aa|publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria|accessdate=22 March 2018}}
Taxonomy and naming
Diuris fucosa was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Urana and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.{{cite web|title=Duiris curta|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/616354|publisher=APNI|accessdate=22 March 2018}} The specific epithet (fucosa) is a Latin word meaning "painted", "simulated" or "counterfeit",{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page =477}} referring to the tan-brown markings on the labellum of this orchid.
Distribution and habitat
This orchid grows in Callitris woodland in two locations between Urana and Narrandera, one in a state forest and the other on private property. There are two old collections from Victoria but the species is now classed as "extinct" in that state.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
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Category:Endemic orchids of Australia
Category:Orchids of New South Wales